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Parent
- Student Handbook
2005 -
2008
Parents’
Prayer
Most loving
Father, the example of Parenthood, you have entrusted our children to
us to bring them up for you and prepare them for everlasting life.
Assist us with your grace, that we may fulfill this sacred duty with
competence and love. Teach us when to reprove, when to praise, and
when to be silent. Make us gentle and considerate, yet firm and watchful.
Keep us from the weakness of indulgence and the excess of severity.
Give us the courage to be disliked sometimes by our children when we
must do necessary things, which are displeasing in their eyes. Give
us the imagination to enter their world in order to understand and guide
them. Grant us all the virtues we need to lead them by word and example
in the ways of wisdom and piety. One day, with them, may we enter into
the joys of our true and lasting home with You in heaven.
Amen.
Introduction
St. Francis School opened in 1928 and was staffed by the Sisters of
Mercy. At that time, Metuchen was part of the Trenton Diocese. In
1981 the Trenton Diocese was divided in half and thus the Metuchen Diocese
was formed making the Borough of Metuchen the See of the new Diocese.
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi became known as the Cathedral of
St. Francis of Assisi, and its school is called St. Francis Cathedral
School. The Sisters of Mercy administered the school until June 2001.
At that time the leadership was put in the hands of a lay principal.
This Handbook exists to foster the efficient operation of St. Francis
Cathedral School. To meet this objective, the School administration
is given flexibility and the ability to exercise discretion. In appropriate
circumstances, the principal has the discretion to take actions other
than those specified in the Handbook. This Handbook is not intended
and should not be considered to create any additional rights for students
or parents/guardians.
Mission
Statement
St.
Francis Cathedral School creates a Catholic atmosphere where
children are challenged
to develop respect, justice, and responsibility
while growing intellectually
and spiritually into leaders of the 21st
Century.
School
Motto
Respect,
Justice Responsibility
School
Colors
Red, White,
Black
Philosophy
St. Francis
Cathedral School is steeped in the traditions of service, peace, and
courage. It shares the common mission of all Catholic schools, namely,
to teach, to proclaim the message of Jesus, to build Christian community,
to worship God, and to serve one another and the world. Our school
supports and enhances the family’s role as the primary educators of
their children.
We engage
students from varied cultural backgrounds in a developmental curriculum
promoting spiritual growth, academic excellence, and social responsibility.
The school identifies its wider community as faculty and staff, students,
families, parish, interested outside individuals and groups, neighborhood,
and alumni. Within this dynamic, the young learner develops as a whole
child, grounded in God’s love. The graduate leaves St. Francis Cathedral
School prepared to shape his or her life in a pattern of excellence,
morality, service, and commitment.
I.
GENERAL SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM POLICIES
A. Admissions
Non-discrimination
Policy
St.
Francis Cathedral School admits students of any race, color, national
and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities
generally accorded or made available to students at the School. St.
Francis Cathedral School does not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational
policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic
and other school-administered programs.
Inclusion
Policy
As educators in a
Catholic School we view each child entrusted to us as a unique, beloved
child of God. We are called to create an environment where every child
is provided with whatever he or she needs to learn.
Inclusion at St.
Francis Cathedral School refers to the incorporation and supporting
of students in the classroom who have learning disabilities or difficulty
in learning. This means using any available service plan, communicating
with parents, and participating in Child Study Team meetings whenever
possible. We are called to support the professional recommendations
of learning consultants and to encourage students to participate in
the services to which they are entitled regardless of any inconvenience
this may cause us.
Registration
St.
Francis Cathedral School gives preference to:
• Registered
parishioners of St. Francis Cathedral Church who currently
have siblings in the school.
• Registered
parishioners of St. Francis Cathedral Church who currently
have no siblings in the school.
• Catholic
students registered in parishes other than St. Francis
Cathedral Church and who currently have siblings in the
school.
• Catholic
students registered in parishes other than St. Francis
Cathedral Church but who currently have no siblings in
the school.
• Non-Catholic
students.
A
yearly fee per student is required at the time of registration. This
Registration Fee is refundable only if the student is not accepted.
The
following requirements are necessary to be accepted into the school:
• Six
years old on or before October 1st to enter First Grade
• Five
years old on or before October 1st to enter Kindergarten
• Four
years old on or before October 1st to enter Pre-K 4
• Three
years old on or before October 1st to enter Pre-K 3
• Baptismal
Certificate
• Birth
Certificate
• Health/Immunization
Records
• Registration
Fee
All
new students are required to have a complete physical before starting
St. Francis Cathedral School. Students coming from out of state or
an area of high incidence rate within the state must have a Mantoux
Test within six months of starting school. The State of New Jersey
designates these areas.
In
order to plan for the following year, every family in the school will
be required during the month of March to reregister their children for
the next school year. The registration fee per child should accompany
the registration form. All registration forms must be completed and
returned to the School Office in order for the student to be on a class
list.
Immunizations
St.
Francis Cathedral School abides by all of the Immunization Policies
set by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
• DPT:
a minimum of four doses, provided that at least one dose
is given on or after the fourth birthday.
• OPV:
a minimum of three doses, provided that at least one dose
is given on or after the fourth birthday.
• Measles
vaccine: two doses administered on or after the first birthday;
children who were immunized before the first birthday
are to be re-immunized.
• Rubella
vaccine: administered on or after the first birthday; children
who were immunized before the first birthday are to be
re-immunized.
• Mumps
vaccine: one dose administered on or after the first birthday;
children who were immunized before the first birthday
are to be re-immunized.
• Hepatitis
B: three doses required for Kindergarten/Grade 1 and
Grade 6.
An
applicant whose immunization record is incomplete will not be admitted.
No requests for religious exemptions will be considered.
Transfer
Students
In
addition to all of the above items, a transfer notification, a most
recent report card, and standardized test scores are to be submitted
upon application. No transfers will be accepted during the final year
before graduation except in special circumstances.
Tuition
Policy
Yearly tuition rates
and registration fees are determined by February. Parents/guardians
are given three options for tuition payment:
Option 1 – Single
payment ($50 discount),
Option 2 – Two payment plan
Option 3 – Monthly payment plan through F.A.C.T.S. which requires
an AUTOMATIC TUITION PAYMENT AGREEMENT FORM.
The school reserves
the right to cancel the registration of any student whose family fails
to satisfactorily meet tuition payments during the preceding semester/or
in such cases to require full tuition payment in advance of registration
acceptance.
Financial Obligation
All financial obligations
must be met by May 20th in order for students to participate
in graduation exercises and/or field trips.
B.
Attendance
Prompt,
regular attendance is absolutely essential to academic success. The
parent/guardian is expected to foster these good habits in the student,
both for the benefit of the student’s current academic achievement and
to encourage mature adult behavior in the future.
Absence
A parent/guardian
must call the school at 732-548-3162 no later than 9:00 a.m. to report a student’s absence. If no call has been received by 9:00
a.m., the School Nurse will
make a reasonable effort to reach a parent/guardian by phone to verify
the legitimacy of the absence. These procedures represent a mutual
effort to account for the presence of the student during school hours.
When the student
returns to school, she/he must present to the teacher a written excuse from a parent/guardian
stating the student’s name together with the dates and reason for the
absence. An absence of five consecutive days requires a doctor’s note.
Students who receive an excused absence prior to their being absent,
for example to visit another school, will be marked absent.
Trips and vacations
during the school year are strongly discouraged. Students are responsible
for all the work that was missed during her/his absence.
Arrival/Departure
In
order to provide a safe environment for the children and to eliminate
traffic jams, please follow the procedure below.
Arrival
Drop-off
time begins at 7:40 a.m. If you must drop your child off earlier
than 7:40 a.m., please contact Mrs. Marilou Rizzo, Before-Care
and After-Care Director, at 732-548-3107, to make arrangements for supervision
of your child/children. Before-Care begins at 7:00 a.m. in the Main
School Building.
Children
in Grades 1-8 enter the school through the Breezeway door. Parents
who drive their children are asked to drive into the school parking
lot and let the children exit the driver’s side. Drivers, please stay
in your cars. After the children have exited, please stay in the flow
of traffic and proceed out of the parking lot with caution. All bus
students will enter the Main Street door of the school nearest the office.
Pre-Kindergarten
and Kindergarten students go directly to the Cathedral Parish Center
(CPC) and enter the door in the rear of the CPC near the porch. Parents
of these children may park in the CPC Parking Lot or on the street.
There is “No Parking” on Library Place from Main Street to the CPC Parking
Lot. Left-side parking on Library Place is allowed from the CPC Parking
Lot and up to Linden Avenue. There is “No Parking” at all on
the right side of Library Place.
Parents
are not permitted in the classroom areas during the arrival time.
Departure
Children
who ride the buses are dismissed first. They will exit the front doors
and get directly on their bus. No other children are permitted to ride
the bus except those authorized by your township or borough. Permission
for a friend to ride a bus of another student cannot be
given by the school administration.
Children
who ride in cars will be dismissed after those who ride the buses.
Parents/guardians are to park in the parking lots and stand by your
car. No parent/guardian is to park on the street near the school.
The
students will exit through the front doors and walk around to the parking
lot. Teachers will walk them in a line to the lot and the children
will come to you. If you are parked in the lot across from the school,
your child will have to cross by the crossing guard, and walk down to
you. You may wait for them by the entrance of the parking lot and take
them to the car.
Those
students who walk home or who are picked up by their parents on Elm
Avenue are dismissed through the front doors near the Church. Students
who walk toward Library Place will cross at the crossing guard.
The
children who are being picked up on Elm Avenue will exit the front doors
and walk down Main Street on line with teachers guiding them. The teacher
will cross those children who walk home across Elm Avenue. Parents
who are waiting on the corner, please take your child/children and leave
so the teachers will be able to see if there are children who need to
wait for their parents.
Supervision
of Students
St.
Francis Cathedral School’s responsibility for supervision of students
begins at 7:40 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. The School also has
a Before-Care and After-Care Program. The Before-Care Program starts
at 7:00 a.m. and the After-Care Program begins immediately after school
and ends at 6:00 p.m. sharp.
If
a parent/guardian knows ahead of time that she/he will not be able to
pick the student up immediately after school, she/he must call the School
Office. The student will be told in advance and will wait outside the
Principal’s Office or go to the After-Care Program.
Tardiness
Students
who arrive after 7:50 a.m. are to report to the office to receive a
late slip before entering their classroom. For every two tardy slips
the students in grades 1 through 8 will serve a detention. We strongly
encourage parents to ensure that students arrive on time to school.
It is disruptive to both the student and the class when students to
arrive late.
Truancy
A
student who deliberately avoids coming to school, contrary to the wishes
of his/her parents/guardian, is considered truant. Habitual truancy
will be reported to the appropriate authority. A student who is chronically
truant will be subject to discipline.
Early
Sign Out Procedure
Early
dismissal of an individual student will be granted in extraordinary
circumstances. Parents are requested to make dental and doctor appointments
after 1:45 p.m.
No
student may leave the school building during school hours unless a parent
or some other designated authority picks her/him up at the School Office.
Occasionally a student may have to leave school before dismissal. The
procedure is as follows:
• An
Early Dismissal Form or a note from home must be sent to the
office at the beginning of the day.
• The
parent/guardian must sign out the student in the School Office.
If for some reason the parent/guardian is unable to come
to school, this must be stated in the note.
• Students
arriving 11 a.m. or after will be considered absent for a
half day.
• Students
leaving school 11 a.m. or earlier for the day will be considered
absent for
a half day.
The
only time a student may be released from school is with written permission
from a parent or guardian. In every instance of leaving early, students
are responsible for completing any missed class-work, homework or
tests.
C. Communications
Office
Hours
The
office is open before and after the regular school day. The office
hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Emergency
Closings
In
case of a severe storm when it may be necessary to cancel school sessions
or have a delayed opening, observe the following:
• Listen
for a radio announcement on AM 1450 – WCTC or FM 98.3
– WMGQ or check web sites, www.wctcam.com
or www.magic983.com.
• If
there is a delayed opening, a.m. Pre-K will be cancelled.
• Do
not call the school, convent, or rectory.
• If
you are in doubt, use your good judgment.
In
any other emergency closing pertaining only to St. Francis Cathedral
School, a class mother will telephone the announcement.
Appointments
Meetings
between teachers and parents are seen as vital to the growth and development
of students. If a difficulty should arise concerning conduct or academic
work, please contact the teacher involved before the matter is
brought to the attention of the principal. Meetings can be arranged
for after-school hours. Teacher-parent conferences are scheduled after
the first and third quarters.
Parents
who wish to meet with the Principal or Vice-Principal must contact the
office to arrange a mutually convenient meeting time. Parents who wish
to meet with a teacher or another staff member concerning his/her child
should send a note to the particular person involved.
The
faculty/staff member will contact the parent and set up a date and time
for the meeting. For the sake of good order in the school, parents
may not approach faculty or staff members during the school day without
arranging an appointment beforehand. Unless parents have an appointment
with a teacher, they are asked not to have a conference with the teacher
before school. This time is reserved for class preparation. When appointments
are made, the parents and the faculty or staff members should be aware
of the purpose of the conference so that all concerned may be appropriately
prepared.
If
it is necessary to telephone a teacher, please leave a message at the
office and the call will be returned.
Change
of Address
The
homeroom teacher and the school office must be informed of a change
of address and/or telephone number. This also pertains to emergency
numbers.
Communication
With Parents
A
school calendar is published each year. This calendar is in accord
with the guidelines of the State of New Jersey and the Diocese of Metuchen.
A calendar and H.S.A newsletter are sent home monthly.
During
the school year various flyers are also sent home in the Family Envelope
every Wednesday with the youngest or only student in the family. It
is the responsibility of the parents to remove the contents of the envelope,
sign it and see that their son/daughter returns the empty envelope to
the school the next day.
Faculty
Meetings
Faculty
meetings are held on the first Friday of each month. Dismissal is at
12:00 P.M. Parents are notified on the monthly and yearly calendar
of the dates of faculty meetings, holidays, and teacher in-service days.
Please note these days on your calendar as they require student transportation
at 12:00 p.m.
Party
Invitations/Flyers
No
invitations or flyers for personal parties are to be passed out through
school unless there is one for each class member. Class lists with names
and addresses are not given out from the school.
Money
Money
that is sent to school for a specific event or purpose should be placed
in a sealed envelope and identified with the student’s name, grade and
room, the amount enclosed and its purpose. Any amount of $5.00 or more
should be in check form made out to St. Francis Cathedral School.
No cash that is stipulated for tuition should be given to a student.
Please bring it to the School Office in person and we will provide a
receipt.
Home-School
Association
The
Home-School Association (H.S.A.) is composed of all parents/guardians
of the students of St. Francis Cathedral School. The faculty and administration
are included in the membership. The objectives of the H.S.A include:
• Promoting
the full spiritual and academic growth of each student.
• Creating
better parental awareness.
• Serving
as a vehicle of communication between faculty and parents.
• Assisting
the School administration in attaining its goals through
active parental involvement. All communication from the
H.S.A must be addressed and approved by the principal.
The
Home-School Association is designed to assist the school by fundraising.
With this financial assistance, the school is able to provide materials
necessary for instruction. It is highly recommended that all parents
make every effort to attend the H.S.A meetings and cooperate in aiding
the H.S.A both in their fundraising programs and social undertakings.
Custodial
and Non-Custodial Parents
School Records -
St. Francis Cathedral School abides by the provisions of
applicable law with respect to the rights of non-custodial parents.
In the absence of a court order to the contrary and upon request, the
school will provide the non-custodial parent with access to the student’s
essential records.
Court Orders Affecting
Parents - If there is a court
order specifying the rights and responsibilities of individual parents,
it is the responsibility of the custodial parent to provide the school
with an official copy of the court order. The custodial parent may
wish to supply the principal with the “custody section” of the divorce
decree if it contains information which may be useful to the school
in fulfilling its obligations.
Pickup from School - The
school will permit only the custodial parent, or her/his designee (designated
in writing), to pick up the child during or at the end of the school
day. The non-custodial parent will not be permitted to remove the child
from school during or at the end of the school day, unless there is
written authorization from the custodial parent. In an emergency, a
clearly defined, one-time telephone authorization may be acceptable.
Visitors
EVERYONE,
parents, volunteers, visitors, is required to “sign in” at the office
and obtain a “Volunteer” or “Visitor” badge to wear during his/her stay.
No one is permitted to go to a classroom and interrupt the teaching
process for any purpose.
Telephone
Children
are not permitted to call home for forgotten homework, clothing, materials,
etc., for classes. These do not constitute emergencies. In an emergency,
school staff will place the necessary calls.
D. Health
Services
Emergency
Forms
At
the beginning of the school year in September, “Emergency Forms” are
distributed. Parents are requested to read the forms carefully and
to register the names, addresses and phone numbers of at least two
neighbors or friends that are available in the event that a child
is ill and the parent is not available. This form is very important.
Nurse
A
registered nurse is available each school day from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00
p.m. The nurse monitors required medical registration documents, including
immunizations, emergency information forms, and informs school personnel
of health issues regarding individual students. Documentation of a
physical examination provided by the family physician is required to
be on file in the school for all students entering grades K, 3, and
6.
Among
the regular services provided by, or through, the school nurse are vision,
hearing, and Scoliosis screening; height, weight, and blood pressure
testing.
If
a child is ill in the morning before he/she leaves home, please do not
send him/her to school. Children should be fever-free for 24 hours
before returning to school. The school nurse is available for any student
who feels ill or is injured during the school day. When a child becomes
ill or is seriously injured at school, emergency care will be given
and the parent/guardian will be notified to bring the child home. The
school is responsible only for immediate first aid. The legal responsibility
for medical care rests with the parents/guardians.
In
the event of an accident, no matter how minor, the student should report
to the nurse immediately. Where warranted, the nurse will complete
injury reports and send a copy to the parent. When a student reports
to the Nurse’s Office and the nurse is not available, the student should
then go to the School Office.
Parents/guardians
are asked to inform the nurse of any significant injuries or accidents
that involve students off school grounds. This will assist the school
in accommodating any special student needs.
Parents/guardians
are asked to notify the school nurse of any communicable disease that
their child develops, as well as any incidents of hospitalization and
any additional immunizations or boosters the child receives during the
school year. Children with any type of infectious illness must be kept
at home until the period of infection is over.
Temporary
absence from physical education classes requires a written statement
from a physician and is given to the school nurse, who will inform the
physical education teacher. When feasible, students excused from physical
education on a temporary basis will accompany their class to the area
of instruction.
Medication
St.
Francis Cathedral School strongly discourages the administration of
either prescription or non-prescription medication in school or at school-sponsored
activities. However, if it is absolutely essential that a student receive
medication while under school supervision, the following procedures
apply:
1. A
parent/guardian should come to the school and personally
administer the medication.
2.
If this arrangement is not possible, the School Nurse or the principal
(or her designee) will
administer the medication under
the following conditions:
• The
medication must be given to the School Nurse or principal
by the parent/guardian;
• The
medication must be in the original pharmacy labeled
container; and
• The parent/guardian and the
student’s physician must
complete
and sign an “Authorization to Administer
Medication
in School” form. This form is available from the
school.
Students
will be permitted to self-administer medication only for life-threatening
illnesses or conditions. The parent/guardian must schedule a conference
with the School Nurse to discuss in detail the need for the medication.
The parent/guardian and the student’s physician must complete and sign
an “Authorization for Self-Administration of Medication in School” form.
This form is available from the school.
Insurance
The
Diocesan School Insurance Policy covers all students.
Child
Abuse
New
Jersey law requires any person who has “reasonable cause to believe
that a child has been subjected to child abuse or acts
of child abuse to report the same promptly to the Division
of Youth and Family Services by telephone or otherwise.” See N.J.S.A.
9:6-9. 10 et. Seq. Failure to report suspected
child abuse is punishable as a disorderly persons offense. N.J.S.A.
9:6-8.14. Under law anyone who makes a report shall have immunity
from any civil or criminal liability that he may have otherwise incurred.
N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.13. The law imposes this obligation on every
citizen without exception.
Counseling
Services
The
school provides a full-time counselor. The counselor is available to
students, parents, faculty, and staff.
E. School
Regulations
Fire
Drills
Fire
drills will be conducted periodically as directed in the New Jersey
regulations (18:114-106).
Textbooks
All
textbooks are the property of St. Francis Cathedral School or the State
of New Jersey. They are provided for student use at great expense.
It is important to instill in the students a sense of responsibility
in regard to the property of others. All textbooks and workbooks are
to be kept clean, covered at all times, and handled carefully.
If a book is lost, mutilated, or destroyed, the parents must assume
the cost of the book.
Every
student must carry a school bag to and from school. The school bag should
provide adequate protection for the books, especially during inclement
weather.
Electronic
Devices
Cell
phones, if needed for after school, are to be turned off during the
day and kept in the book bag. Students are not permitted to
bring headphones, video or audio equipment or any electronic devices
to school unless specifically requested by a teacher for use in the
curriculum.
Lunch
and Recess Supervision
The
teachers and parent lunch volunteers, both in the dining area and on
the playground are the school authorities in charge of supervision.
Their directives to students must be obeyed. The health and safety
of our students require everyone’s cooperation.
Following
lunch, recess is provided for the students. The following safety regulations
are enforced on the playground:
• Students
must remain under the supervision of the recess proctors
and are to stay in the designated areas.
• Students
must finish their lunch, including dessert, before proceeding
outside for recess. No food or drink is permitted outside
the cafeteria.
• No
student may reenter the school building for any reason without
the permission of the proctor supervising recess.
• All
problems or injuries are to be reported to the recess proctors
on duty.
F. Student
Activities
Field
Trips
On
occasion, St. Francis Cathedral School will sponsor and conduct field
trips for the educational enrichment of the students. Participation
in field trips is a privilege not a right of students. Poor conduct
may warrant a student being denied the privilege of going on a field
trip. In such cases the student will report to school as usual and
remain in supervised classes for the day. No student may participate
in a field trip unless a signed parent/guardian permission slip for
the specific event is submitted to the school. The school provides
the permission slip. All trips require a notarized signature.
School uniforms are worn unless otherwise notified.
Where
medical reasons warrant, the teacher may request the child’s parent/guardian
to attend. If a child requires medication during a field trip, parents
must discuss this with the school nurse prior to the trip so that arrangements
can be made.
Student
Council
The
Student Council sponsors charitable activities, services to the school
community, and activities for the student body. The officers are elected
in September from a group of candidates who have indicated a willingness
to serve the student body and who present their ideas and beliefs in
a speech to grades three through eight, the grades that vote in the
primary and final elections. Students must be in eighth grade to run
for offices of president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, public
affairs or religious affairs. All other classrooms elect a representative/liaison.
Students
running for and holding Student Council offices must meet all academic
and disciplinary eligibility requirements. The Student Council Moderators
are faculty members.
School
Store
Supplies
such as copybooks, tablets, pens, pencils, crayons, etc., may be purchased
at the school store before 8:00 a.m. on specified days.
G. Transportation
Bus
Bus
service is available for those students who qualify in districts offering
bus transportation. Eligible students attending parochial schools are
entitled to either bus transportation or a reimbursable fee if the local
district provides bus transportation to the public school. Applicable
information and forms may be requested at the School Office or from
the various public school districts. Only students authorized to be
transported by a certain bus may ride that bus. The school cannot authorize
changes or exceptions.
Students
who deface or damage the bus in any way shall be, along with their parents/guardians,
financially responsible for restitution. Students who become serious
disciplinary problems on the school bus may have their riding privileges
suspended or revoked.
Car
For
safety and good order, drivers bringing students to school in the morning,
or picking them up at dismissal, are to respect the following regulations:
• No
Pre-K child will be dismissed until the authorized adult has
arrived at the classroom to transport the child.
• If
someone other than the authorized adult will be picking up a
student, a written notice giving permission to release the child
to that person must be submitted to the School Office prior
to dismissal.
• Drivers
who anticipate being late for student arrival or dismissal
are asked to call the School Office as soon as possible
with that information.
• Drivers
are required to follow the traffic patterns outlined in the
"Arrival/Departure" section
of this Handbook.
II. CURRICULUM
AND INSTRUCTION
A. Curriculum
Religious
Education and Religious Services
Religious
Education takes place in the home and in the school. Parents, by their
interest and example, play a vital role in the religious education of
their children.
Our
program must be concerned with initiating children into the sacramental
life and mission of the Church, explaining to them the Church’s nature,
history and teaching. We must foster in each person Christ-like love
and dedication to all. This will result in practical service to whoever
is in need.
One’s
religious development is essentially the ongoing development of a relationship
with God, a relationship which affects not only how one acts toward
God, but also how the person relates toward his/her neighbor as well
as oneself.
The
children of St. Francis Cathedral School are given every opportunity
to grow daily in the practice of this faith. Liturgy is the focal point
of our Catholic belief and children of all grades are given varied opportunities
to prepare and take an active role in a monthly liturgy. The traditional
devotions of the church such as the rosary, Advent/Lenten devotions,
May Crowning and an in-depth exposure to the history of the church are
an intricate part of the religious education given to all the children.
The
Sacramental Programs of Penance and Holy Eucharist have been structured
in such a way as to provide student and parent participation. The reception
of the sacraments is done on a parish level.
The
universality of the Church is touched upon by encouraging the children
to be mindful of the role of the Missions. Children are motivated to
make sacrifices and pray for all missionaries throughout the world.
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